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Terminal and shell tools

If you spend real time in a terminal, these are the apps worth installing first. This topic focuses on Windows terminal emulators, shell-friendly utilities, and command-line essentials.

12 apps Quick install this topic Explore comparisons

Quick install this topic

Three equivalent ways to set up this topic on a Windows machine. Pick one — or mix and match — based on whether you want a single command, a declarative DSC config, or per-app control.

Option 1

Batch install with `winget import`

One copy-paste, no manual download. The command below pulls topic-terminal-shell-tools.packages.json from winpkg.com and runs winget import on it. Best for moving an app set between machines.

$f = "$env:TEMP\topic-terminal-shell-tools.packages.json"; Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing -Uri "https://winpkg.com/topics/terminal-shell-tools/packages.json" -OutFile $f; winget import -i $f

Run in PowerShell. Saves to %TEMP% and runs winget on it.

Already downloaded the file? Use the short command

winget import -i topic-terminal-shell-tools.packages.json

Option 2

Declarative setup with `winget configure`

One copy-paste, no manual download. The command below pulls topic-terminal-shell-tools.winget from winpkg.com and applies it with winget configure. Best for repeatable dev-box bootstrap and onboarding scripts.

$f = "$env:TEMP\topic-terminal-shell-tools.winget"; Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing -Uri "https://winpkg.com/topics/terminal-shell-tools/topic.winget" -OutFile $f; winget configure $f

Tip: on Windows with App Installer, double-clicking a downloaded .winget file runs winget configure on it automatically — no terminal needed.

Already downloaded the file? Use the short command

winget configure topic-terminal-shell-tools.winget

Option 3

Per-app install commands

Run only the apps you actually want. Best when you already have most of these installed and only need to top up.

winget install --id=Git.Git -e
winget install --id=Microsoft.WindowsTerminal -e
winget install --id=Python.Python.3.12 -e
winget install --id=Docker.DockerDesktop -e
winget install --id=OpenJS.NodeJS -e
winget install --id=WinSCP.WinSCP -e
winget install --id=Rustlang.Rustup -e
winget install --id=PuTTY.PuTTY -e
winget install --id=Tailscale.Tailscale -e
winget install --id=Cloudflare.cloudflared -e
winget install --id=Vercel.Hyper -e
winget install --id=Warp.Warp -e

Focused install options in this topic

Smaller install flows, kept inside Topics

Developer quick setup

Developer Toolkit

A practical Windows developer starter bundle for rebuilding an editor, terminal, runtime, and tooling stack in one go.

Developer workstation setupTeam onboardingFresh coding machines

Bring your dev stack back with one install flow.

Microsoft Visual Studio Code Git Docker Desktop Python 3.12 Node.js Go Programming Language

Remote work quick setup

Networking & Remote

A focused bundle for remote access, secure connectivity, and machine-to-machine utilities on Windows.

Remote workOps / support setupsNetworking-heavy machines

Bring remote access and networking tools back quickly.

WinSCP PuTTY Tailscale WireGuard cloudflared Telegram Desktop

Why this topic matters

•Strong fit for developers, operators, and remote-work setups
•Includes terminal apps plus core CLI tools
•Useful bridge between app pages, networking workflows, and broader setup decisions

Apps in this topic

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Git The Git Development Community

A free and open source distributed version control system

gitvcs

v2.54.0 Free

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Windows Terminal Microsoft

The new Windows Terminal, a tabbed command line experience for Windows.

clicmdcommand-line

v1.9.1942.0 Free

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Python 3.12 Python Software Foundation

Python is a programming language that lets you work more quickly and integrate your systems more effectively.

languageprogrammingprogramming-language

v3.12.9 Free

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Docker Desktop Docker Inc.

Docker Desktop is an application for macOS and Windows machines for the building and sharing of containerized applications. Access Docker Desktop and follow the guided onboarding to build your first containerized application in minutes.

containercontainerizationvirtualization

v4.9.1 Free

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Node.js Node.js Foundation

Run JavaScript Everywhere

codingcross-platformdevelop

v26.2.0 Free

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WinSCP Martin Prikryl

Free SFTP, SCP, S3 and FTP client for Windows

fileftpftps

v6.5.6 Free

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Rustup: the Rust toolchain installer The Rust Programming Language

The Rust toolchain installer

rustrustlang

v1.29.0 Free

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PuTTY Simon Tatham

A free implementation of SSH and Telnet for Windows and Unix platforms, along with an xterm terminal emulator.

sshtelnettty

v0.84.0.0 Free

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Tailscale Tailscale Inc.

Tailscale is a WireGuard based mesh VPN, used to connect your computers and other devices together securely without proxies.

meshnetworkvpn

v1.98.2 Free

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cloudflared cloudflare

Cloudflare Tunnel client

argo-tunnelcloudflarecloudflare-tunnel

v2026.5.1 Free

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Hyper ZEIT, Inc.

A terminal built on web technologies

consoleterminal

v3.4.1 Free

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Warp Denver Technologies, Inc.

Warp is the intelligent terminal with AI and your dev team’s knowledge built-in. Warp brings AI, collaboration, and a modern-UX to this essential developer tool to help you become even more powerful.

aiconsoleterminal

vv0.2026.05.20.09.21.stable_03 Free

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